Races and Adventures

Well, my second 50k, but my first Race Report, so we’ll see how this goes…. [Read more…] about The optimist and a half filled glass

Shelly Girl and I like to go on misadventures and run in new places. The Naples Philharmonic 10k met both of these criteria. We had never run a race in Naples (new place) and the race was totally on roads (misadventure)! With a mind, spirit and legs used to long and lots of ups and downs, we were curious how are legs would adjust to the flat, fast roads of Naples. Also, one big question loomed, could we handle the 67 feet of total elevation gain that came with the 6.2 mile out and back? ☺ [Read more…] about Contemplating Our Naples

It is not often that a weekend Bimble deserves a full blown report but Sunday’s Great Catamount Woodbridge Expedition of 2012 is an exception.

I could be wrong but I believe the origin of the idea was a run Cal Kid, Catamount, me and fearsome took several weeks back. On that day there was discussed some way to connect a bunch of trails, with the result being a run of mythic proportion. [Read more…] about The Great Catamount Expedition

“Why is there an IV bag in the refrigerator?” asked my sister Leigh, upon discovering my backpack reservoir while looking for supplies for a salad. As we live on separate coasts, she had heard about my recent immersion in trail and ultra running, but not experienced it firsthand.

I had selected the Montara Mountain Trail Marathon (also 10K, Half, and 50K) in Pacifica, CA (run in another incarnation as the Pacifica 50K) based on its date and close proximity to San Francisco, where I planned to stay with my sister while attending a professional conference.  I was excited to check out the trail running scene in California and be immersed in the rugged coastal landscape I always love visiting. I vaguely noticed that the course involved some major elevation gain (5840 according to the website; 7500 according to the Garmin) and slow times (the women’s course record after the first running last year was 5:45). However, I now realize I did not allow that information to influence my training in any way (didn’t do any hill repeats).  It probably saved me that Sno recently took a notion to explore the hilly Quinnipiac trail. [Read more…] about Warning: Running Ultra Marathons Can Rub Off On You!

For me and Shelly Girl the road to the Vermont 100 began in earnest in Maryland at the Seneca Creek 50k. After five weeks of training, Seneca Creek was to be the first test of our preparation and fitness. The course is known to be fast and this year it was also known to be long, as they added a new section of trail not run in previous years.

Shelly and I headed down to Damascus Maryland the day before the race. Shelly had been away at Bimble South so we were looking forward to the ride down and just hanging out with each other. We had no problems with traffic, got a nice hotel room, had a good dinner and began the tossing and turning night before a race ritual. I actually slept better than usual so 5:00 a.m. rolled around rather quickly. We got ready and made it to the finish in plenty of time for the shuttle bus to the starting line.
[Read more…] about The Road to the VT: Chapter 1 Seneca Creek 50k

Lasting Thoughts of my Hashawha 50k Adventure[slideshow id=231]

 

Doing laps of Wheelers Farm road in my car looking for Forrest’s office

Small town traffic jams on PA 222

Eating a whole pizza the night before the race

Aborting the pre-race shoe-compass photo-op because the RD started the race while we were still arranging ourselves

Lots of very nice single track (very few roots, rocks, and mostly soft terrain), with fun switchbacks.

A long descent to the turnaround point where we had to pick up a rubber band and show as proof of reaching that point (wouldn’t an honor system be easier?)

An aid station that served hot food

A 2 mile jaunt through open meadows in very strong winds

A mid shin deep stream crossing with bone chilling ice cold water (you must know from my irrational fear of water crossings that it took a lot from me to do this and not use the tree log to cross the stream- but Chip jumped in to the stream with both feet with a huge splash and said ‘aw c’mon Booman’ -and so I crossed the stream)

Using a stick to climb a hard section (a useful tip I got from reading Guthrie’s race report from Vermont 100)

Finishing loop1 and thinking that wasn’t too bad.  Spuds is attentive to everyone’s needs as we came in close together.  A good man, we all concur sagely.

Setting out again for loop 2 – soon after this point, I lost contact with Chip, All State and Jay.  Although I saw them, and heard them occasionally at some switchbacks and the turnaround section, they were way ahead of me but cheering me on. Switchbacks allow faster friends become a mobile cheering section- interesting.

Running by myself for miles –listening to voices in my head (see Jay’s post of beaninsneakers QOD from some days back) and using a mantra that Nadia lent me (not telling!)

Five miles from the finish- I decided that I’m done running and that I was going to walk the rest of it in.  But what’s this?  Is that Forrest running back towards me?  What’s the matter, Forrest?  He didn’t say but I know that he came back to give me company. In effect he guilted me back into adding some running into my all-walking plan.  If not for him, I might have taken much more than 8 hours to finish (only done twice before in the history of the race- the RD helpfully told us before the race)

Using another stick to climb the steep section – getting mildly amused by recognizing the stick I used and discarded on the first loop.  Thinking – I wonder if they will still be there if I run the race next year

Stopping at the raptor cage to look at a rescued bald eagle

Running the last section with Jay to the finish line

Hugs & handshakes

Dry clothes, hot chili, & ice cold coca cola!

Jay’s awesome driving back while I rested

Chic- fil A chocolate shake (aka ultra-marathon recovery drink) and All State’s awesome ginger cookies that I have waited patiently for TWO years to taste.

Late night dinner at home

Beer in my finisher’s mug

Warm bed

Fresh plans (see Highland Sky)

 

Thanks Chip! Thanks All State! Thanks Forrest!